The unhealthy diets and haphazard lifestyles of the present times have contributed to an alarming increase in obesity rates in both kids and adults.
And it's not just a cosmetic problem. Obesity has also cropped up as a
major health issue leading to a numerous ailments and complications. As
per medical standards, if a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) is higher
than 30, he or she is obese. At the moment, the condition has been
elevated to a serious public health problem and is becoming a cause of
many fatalities worldwide.
In this piece, we'll discuss some of the grave risks associated with
obesity. For information on how to battle obesity, refer to our 'Weight Management'
category under the 'Health' section. Recent studies indicate that an
obese person is likely to develop one or more of these problems:
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is strongly attached to obesity. Presence of additional
body fat leads to the circulation of more blood to those tissues as they
need oxygen and nutrients
to survive. This requires the heart to pump more blood and in this
process the work load on the heart and the pressure on the artery walls
go up.
Type 2 Diabetes
Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, also called Type 2 Diabetes, is another common health problem
among obese patients. Research data shows that such people are twice as
likely to develop diabetes. This condition is one of the chief causes
of early death, kidney disease, heart disease and even blindness.
Heart Diseases and Stroke
An obese person has 10 times more chances of developing atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries) as compared to a non-obese person! Other
heart ailments like Coronary Heart Disease (CAD) and heart attack are
more common in bulky and obese people. Such people may also develop high
blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides which is linked to a number of heart ailments and stroke.
Cancer
Overweight men are quite prone to developing cancer
of the rectum, colon and prostrate, whereas women are likely to develop
breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cancer of the uterus.
Sleep Apnea
This is a sleeping disorder
in which the patient snores heavily and his breathing rate is
abnormally low. The risk of sleep apnea increases with higher body
weights but can be countered with lifestyle changes and effective
weight-loss programs.
